ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Diego Perrone's Glass Sculpture at Museo Nazionale Romano

exhibition · 2026-05-04

Diego Perrone (born 1970 in Asti) presents 'La notte all’indietro pesa' at Palazzo Massimo, Museo Nazionale Romano, until January 7, 2020. The work was created under the Italian Council program. Perrone's glass bas-relief engages with a 4th-century AD detached fresco of Venus, later reworked in the 17th century as Dea Roma, discovered in 1655 and moved to Francesco Barberini's secret garden. The sculpture uses the 'pasta di vetro' technique (lost-wax glass casting) with a dark blue core, appearing as a human profile from above but revealing two hands holding watch dials, reminiscent of telescope lenses or an owl's gaze—a symbol of wisdom in antiquity. The surface treatment evokes Baroque marble polishing, particularly Bernini's work. The blue recalls lapis lazuli in Palazzo Massimo's marble inlays, as noted by museum director Daniela Porro. Perrone references artists such as Wildt, Bernini, Dalí, and Redon, using art history as a repository of images and techniques to elevate colored glass from decorative art to full-fledged sculpture. The exhibition is reviewed by Ludovico Pratesi.

Key facts

  • Diego Perrone was born in 1970 in Asti.
  • The sculpture is titled 'La notte all’indietro pesa'.
  • The work is presented at Palazzo Massimo, Museo Nazionale Romano.
  • The exhibition runs until January 7, 2020.
  • The sculpture was created under the Italian Council program.
  • It engages with a 4th-century AD fresco of Venus, reworked as Dea Roma in the 17th century.
  • The fresco was discovered in 1655 and moved to Francesco Barberini's secret garden.
  • The technique used is 'pasta di vetro' (lost-wax glass casting).
  • The sculpture has a dark blue core and appears as a human profile from above.
  • It reveals two hands holding watch dials, reminiscent of telescope lenses or an owl's gaze.
  • The surface treatment evokes Baroque marble polishing, especially Bernini's work.
  • The blue recalls lapis lazuli found in Palazzo Massimo's marble inlays.
  • Daniela Porro is the director of the museum.
  • Perrone references artists Wildt, Bernini, Dalí, and Redon.
  • The review is by Ludovico Pratesi.

Entities

Artists

  • Diego Perrone
  • Bernini
  • Wildt
  • Salvador Dalí
  • Odilon Redon
  • Francesco Barberini

Institutions

  • Museo Nazionale Romano
  • Palazzo Massimo
  • Italian Council

Locations

  • Asti
  • Rome
  • Italy

Sources